Improvement in bedsteads and bed-bottoms



duiir iatrr FREDERIC, Gr.v FORD, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAD.

Letters Patent No. 111,832, dated Febrnary 14, 1871 antedated February 10, 1871.

IMPRCVENIENT IN BEDSTEADS AND B'EDBOTTOMS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the lame.

Toali whom it may concern Be it known that I, FnEDEnIc G. FORD, oi' the city and county of Baltimore, and State of Maryland,

-have invented certain Improvements in Bedsteads;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section of iig. 2, takenthrough the fastenings of the bedstead.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section through oneangle of the mattrass-holder.

Figure 5' is a vertical longitudinal section of one of theslats, showing the mode of s tiiening the same.

'Figure 6 is another modification of the same.

The same letters, occurring on the several -figures indicate like parts.

My-in'vention consists in adapting to lan ordinaryl bedstead a mattress-frame, which shall serve to retain the mattrass within its original dimensions, and th'ns prevent to a great extent its flattening down and oveispreading the side rails of the bedstsad, which is commonly the case as steads are ordinarily constructed, and by thus preserving the thickness of the mattrassit retains its softness and rendersene more-serviceable and comfortable than two would be'under ordinary circumstances, after having been `used for a short time.

The mattrass-bolder furthermore provides for the elevation of a single mattrass to have the appearance of two. or more.

Referring to the drawing- A represents the posts;

B, the side rails; and l O, the head and foot-boards, and their respective rails, of an ordinary bedstead,v which are secured together at the corners by bolts, D.

` .To this stead I adapt a mattrass-holder, consisting of the side boards E and end boards F, connected at the corners by pinsG, passing'through eyes, a, or any equivalent device, and provided with a bottom, composed of slats b Vof novel construction, which will be more-particularly described hereinafter.

This mattrass-holder is of a'depth about or nearly equal to the thickness ofthe mattrass'to be used in it, and elfeetually prevents the lateral spread of the latter.

It is'so formed and proportioned on its exterior as to tit within .tbeside rails B and head and foot-boards O of 'the stead, and be capable ofV vertical play therein on its'spring supports, d, which rest on projectirms, e, on the vinner side of .the rails B.

,The slats b are stiffened by a bar, e, preferably of 4ilat iron or steel, which, when applied to the upper side of4 Ythe Slat, as represented in fig. 5, is slightly cnrved upwardat its center, so that any depression of the slat, by the weight of the mattrass 'or the occupant ofthe bed, will ca'use said bar to curve upward and thus relieve the slat of part of its load.

A modification of this stiffening bar is shown, in iig. 6, applied to the under side of the slat with its convex side to the wood, 'the two ends being closedup and secured, as represented in dotted outline, thusl giving stiffness to the slat.

' The ends of these slats and the recesses in which they rest are faced with sheet metal, as represensed at fm, n, -to prevent the harboring of `vermin; and the angles of Ajthe frame and stead, wherei two parts are connected, may also vhe faced in like 'manner for the same purpose.

A This mattress-holder may be applied to berths of vessels, sleeping-cars, and sofas or other seats.

What is here claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

,1. The separate or independent mattrass-holder E F b, in combination with the bedstead, said holder being supported on springs d, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2, In combination with the above, the sla-ts` b, stiffened with braces c, andfaced ou their ends with sheet metal, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

FREDERIC G. FORD.

Witnesses:

SYDNEY E. SMITH, W. Monnrs SMITH. 

